We have just returned from a pleasant stay in the Monet apartment. Our holidays started with a warm welcome by Silvia. Her service was very good. The Monet apartment has all the facilities that we wished: spacious, clean, good furniture etc. The neighbourhood has character and is an oasis in busy and turbulent New York. Many good restaurants, a variety of shops in Bleeker Street, a grocery around the corner in West 4 th., a bakery at the corner Bleeker Street and one with delicious breads in Hudson Street (ideal for a real Dutch breakfast). At the end of our exciting and inspiring week in Nw York Silvia arranged a limousne to J.F.K. Airport

I stayed in the Carrivagio on the 3rd floor for a week as a fortunate business traveller. Although there are some small irritations (no wireless, and if you forget your ethernet cable, they will 'rent' it to you, which I thought was ridiculous, but I did bring my own) and the fact that although the website says it's a B&B, it isn't, overall it was fantastic. The carrivagio is good for 1-2 people, is on the 3rd floor, and is really spacious and comfortable.

Staying at the west 11th is to be in new york at a calmer, better time. Tree lined streets, culture, cafes and bookstores and cupcakes. I can't reccomend this place highly enough, particularly if you are staying for more than a few nights. Having a working kitchen in an apt in NYC is amazing.

Tips to the owners: Ease up on the scary fees ($500 if you polish your shoes on the sheets, $300 if you lose the key) and change the website to reflect the fact you are NOT a B&B. Include the fact that there is housekeeping every day both on the website and in the room, and create a system by which guests can opt out of the housekeeping, or do it every other day, if they wish.

Final suggestion: Instead of giving guests sheets of paper that include restaurant reviews, rules, etc make a little 3 ring notebook for us - you can put the papers in plastic sheets, and maybe do it up a little!

Another review described the rules as draconian - that's accurate. You sign your life away when you check in. I had the misfortune of having my hair dyed a week before, and stained the pillowcase. I had to endure a few days of relatively hostile notes ("we are holding you responsible for the cost of the pillowcase. do you want to pay in cash or credit?" to which I replied by note "that depends on how much it costs!" obviously. It turned out to be worth $40 but because it wasn't new, I was hit for $25. Sylvia, the caretakers, is really very sweet and helpful, and I think felt badly about the way the owners handled this. Sorry, that's an unhelpful digression.

Overall, worth the money, quiet, lovely.

When you stay here, you are right in the heart of the West Village. Right down the block from Tartine, which has the best croissants outside of Paris and on the corner is the Magnolia Bakery, just in case the croissants aren't enough! Although on the fourth floor (no elevator) the Monet apartment is very roomy, pleasant, well appointed and clean for one or two persons, especially by New York standards. This is a suite with a bedroom and living room area and kitchen. There is a refridgerator and full cooking facilities. The building is older and the stairs up to the apartment lean a bit to the right, but if you want a fantastic location, sound sleep (very quiet building), privacy and a great value, this is it. Tip: make sure to register anyone you expect in your apartment as a registered guest as there are no outside visitors allowed who are not registered. This policy is in place to keep the building quiet and for security reasons too (which protects you!).

We spent a wonderful time in NY West Village, at West Eleventh Townhouse. Anything was perfect, from the warm welcome to the beautiful, spacious and very clean Marcucci appartment. You can spent hours there, sitting at the window, watching the city wake up in the morning and enjoying the delicious smell of the famous Magnolia Bakery down at the corner West 11th/Bleecker Str. . Anything you need is just around the corner and after a long day of strolling around this fascinating, but also hectic and loud city, we appreciated very much returning to the calm and relaxed West Village. We immediately felt at home and very save at West Eleventh Townhouse. There are many restaurants just around the corner, which we can highly recommend, many of the French style and very picturesque. After dinner it is just a five minutes walk to the quite new Hudson River Park, from which you have a really impressive view over Jersey City, Lower Manhattan, if you are lucky - as we were - you can enjoy the marvellous sunset just behind the Hudson. NY is always worth a visit, the next stay at the Marcucci is already under planning....